Why do I have ants in the house in the winter?
Customers are always shocked when ants appear in their New Jersey homes during the wintertime. It seems unreasonable that an ant would scurry about when it’s freezing cold outside, especially since you’re used to seeing them in the warmer weather. Ants hibernate in the wintertime, as there’s really not much else for these dutiful workers to do but rest.
How Do Ants Survive during Winter?
Countless insects and other creepy crawlers emerge in the spring and die or hibernate with the chilly winds of winter. However, ants aren’t among them and will survive under the right conditions. Many ant species can live up to fifteen years, so winter hibernation is one of their survival skills.
Ants are some of the best planners in the insect world. The ant colony gathers food during the warmer months to prepare for winter. Many species dig deeper tunnels in their nests and cover entrances to avoid the cold. They also eat plenty to sustain their body fat when food is scarce.
Unlike other creatures who hibernate, ants don’t go into a deep winter’s sleep. Instead, their metabolism declines, and they cut their activity to a minimum. A colony’s impressive size also helps conserve heat and keep them warm.
Most of the colonies will survive unless the winter is extremely cold. Those that infest buildings and homes are even more likely to survive and thrive. It’s no wonder many folks see these tiny pests in the Garden State during winter.
Reasons Why You’re Seeing Ants in the Winter
It’s pretty shocking when these insects that are supposed to be in hibernation show up as unwelcome guests in your home. There are many reasons why an infestation might occur in the winter months, and here are some prime reasons.
1. It’s Unseasonably Warm
It’s no shock that the weather is out of whack these days. We have unseasonably warm temperatures this year, and its nearly November. Animals don’t go by a calendar as we do, but they have an internal system based on the temperature and seasons.
Have you seen a warm winter day with stink bugs and Asian turkey beetles swarming around your home? It’s because the unusually warm temperatures have brought them out of hibernation. They go back into the electrical outlets and hide in other places for warmth, and the unusual temperatures signals them to wake up.
Thankfully, they go right back into hibernation mode when the temperatures cool off. Ants are prompted to get to work looking for food when it’s warm. If you see them in your home during the winter months, you can ensure that it’s because they’ve been disturbed from their slumber, and to them it’s just another workday.
2. There are Nests Inside Your Home
Another common reason you could encounter ants during the winter is if you have a nest in your attic or crawlspace. Manufactured structures are havens for ants from the elements, and the temperatures inside your home throw their system off balance. The ant is supposed to hibernate in the cooler temperatures, but inside your home is a warm 68-75 degrees.
There’s nothing to tell them that they need to hibernate, as the climate inside indicates they need to work. The trick is to find where the colony is and eradicate it to get rid of the problem.
3. You’re Feeding Them
When you find house and crazy ants in your home, it’s likely in the pantry area or your kitchen. Many people believe that an ant problem only comes in the spring months. While it’s undoubtedly warmer during that time of the year, and many insects are swarming, the ant can be problematic year-round.
If you have food they can get into, they’re not going to leave anytime soon. They can conduct business as usual as you provide the necessary nourishment. Remember that your home is nice and toasty on those cold days, so they have no reason to go into a dormant state. They will continue to terrorize and destroy your food supply if you don’t use preventative measures.
Common Ant Species Seen in Winter
Typical winters in New Jersey are windy and cold, but they can’t stop the ant population. Many species you see during the warmer months can claim squatter’s rights in your home during this season. Here are some that may be crawling across your counter.
1. Black Carpenter Ants
These oversized invaders don’t take a long winter’s nap like their cousins. Instead, they concentrate on boring holes into anything wooden they find. They can bore into your floors, walls, cabinets, and furniture.
You’ll notice their tell-tale calling card of bitsy mounds of sawdust where they’ve been chewing and nesting. They can be pretty destructive to your home and furniture. These are visitors that aren’t welcome for the winter holidays.
2. Odorous Ants
Dealing with an ant infestation in your home really stinks, mainly if they belong to this species. They can have multiple colonies in each nest and can be a severe pest issue. Their nickname comes from the noxious odor they emit when crushed.
Odorous ants are attracted to warmth and will commonly infest homes when the temperature drops. You may see them in close areas, like between appliances and walls. The heat and availability of food allow them to thrive.
3. Fire Ants
A warm fire in the fireplace may be cozy on a chilly winter evening, but fire ants are different. While these aggressive insects usually hibernate during the cold season, they’ll stay active if they invade your home.
Not only can fire ants contaminate your food, but they are venomous. If you disturb their nest, they’ll attack you. Each ant can issue multiple painful stings that can be life-threatening if you have allergies.
4. Black Ants
You typically see black ants outside when winter breaks into spring. The warm weather coaxes them out of hibernation. These are usually the perennial unwelcome guests at your family picnics.
Black ants may appear in late winter if they have made a claim in your home. They have a voracious appetite for sugar and carbs. They may decide to start the summer picnics earlier than you planned.
Ants Work at Night
Most of the ant species found in the Garden State are nocturnal, which means they do their best work at dark. They stay busy boring new tunnels and pilfering your pantry during the night. However, they are expert hiders during the day.
If a place is warm and close to a ready food supply, ants can live contently in your home all winter. The trick is knowing some of their usual hiding places. A flashlight and a bit of investigating can lead you to their hideouts.
For the most part, ants prefer to build their nests inside walls throughout the house. They often gather in the kitchen, pantry, laundry room, and basement. In worse cases, they can invade your appliances and HVAC unit.
How to Deal with Winter Ant Infestations?
Ants are a magnificent part of nature, but you don’t want them in your home. Once they’ve infested your walls and other warm hiding spots, you may fight them all winter. Here are some helpful tips to prevent seasonal invasions.
1. Block Their Entrances
Seal holes or cracks in your foundation or walls to prevent ants from invading your home. Repair or replace screens in your doors and windows and seal any gaps around them. Cut back the brush from your foundation so they won’t have hiding places.
2. Use Protective Food Storage
Ants may be minuscule, but they have an unbelievable appetite. Just one can gobble a third of its body weight in daily food. That’s equivalent to a 150-pound person consuming 50 pounds in everyday meals. They see your pantry and cabinets as a perpetual feast.
Seal your supplies in heavy plastic or glass containers. Ants can chew through thin plastic and cardboard. Avoid leaving fruit or vegetables on the shelves or counters.
3. Be Careful with Pet Food
Unless you have a sealed ant farm, these insects aren’t welcomed in your home. Fill your pets’ dishes with just enough food for them to eat in one meal, and don’t leave anything sitting out. Pet food tempts ants and will keep them returning for more. Plus, it’s not just this insect that will see a food dish as you are rolling out the welcome mat. You may bring all sorts of critters looking for food to your home.
4. Clean Kitchen and Pantry
Be assured that ants can invade the cleanest of homes. However, you can make your house less appealing to them. Clean up spills or crumbs as soon as possible so you aren’t drawing them.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ants
Some of the best ant deterrents are right in your cabinets and pantry. Although they are generally non-toxic, not all are safe around children and pets. These are some of the most popular home remedies for ant infestations.
1. Peppermint
What says winter holidays more than the soothing scent of peppermint? The good news is that ants can’t stand it. Plus, the smell virtually blocks them from detecting other food sources.
Fill a small spray bottle with water and a few drops of essential peppermint oil. Spray it around places where you see any of these insects. Peppermint oil is toxic to pets, so spray in areas they can’t reach.
2. Cinnamon
Here’s another quintessential winter space that ants try to avoid. Sprinkle small amounts of ground cinnamon on any ant infestations you see. You can also add a few drops of cinnamon essential oil to water and spray it.
3. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, or DE, is powdered remains of fossilized marine phytoplankton. It is non-toxic to humans and animals but can be a death sentence to invading insects. The DE’s microscopic grains scratch the ants’ exoskeleton, and they dehydrate to death.
Fill a jar with food-grade DE and sprinkle it along the walls or anywhere that you see ants gathering. It’s also helpful if you spread it around the perimeters of your foundation. It will deter ants and any other creepy crawly that want to winter in your home.
4. Cayenne Pepper
Multiple studies have suggested that cayenne pepper may have several health benefits. While it’s not toxic to your pets, they’ll probably avoid the spicy taste. Cayenne pepper can also effectively repel ants because it disrupts their chemical navigational system.
Sprinkle a bit wherever you see any ant activity. The scent will confuse them, and they will find another place to board for the winter. Some people add a bit of cayenne to water in a spray bottle.
5. Dish Soap and Baking Soda
If you enjoy DIY home cleaning recipes, you probably know the benefits of baking soda. Adding it to dish soap and water can create a powerful natural cleaner. It’s also an ideal way to eliminate ants in your home.
Add a teaspoon of dish soap and baking soda to a cup of water and stir well. Spread this mixture around places where ants may be coming into your home. If you mix it in a spray bottle, the spray will almost instantly kill swarming ants and even roaches.
6. White Vinegar
Another best friend in the natural kitchen is white vinegar. It’s inexpensive and has several anti-microbial properties. For generations, people have sworn by white vinegar for sparkling-clean windows and fresh laundry.
It’s also a quick and easy deterrent for invading insects, especially ants. Add water and a little white vinegar to a spray bottle and spray around your home’s baseboards. Wipe up the dead ants you find and repeat every day until they are gone.
Call the Professionals
Some winter infestations of ants don’t respond to DIY remedies, and you need a professional exterminator in New Jersey. Our knowledgeable and experienced technicians can effectively destroy ants during any season. Spend your winter holidays in peace and joy without worrying about invading ants.
Contact Us To Become Pest Free Today!
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
